Haley tossed and turned in the hotel room at yet another stop on the tour. It had been more hectic rehearsals, meet and greets as well as interviews. Most of the interviewers had been more interested on the new revelation of her teen marriage to a certain Charlotte Bobcats hoopster. It was a weary job trying to constantly change the subject back to the music and after hours of frustration, she had left the task at hand to her publicist to issue a statement explaining that "…the circumstances surrounding Ms. James' personal life were not up for discussion…"

Even with that said, it was hard to concentrate and she winced at the thought that maybe she hadn't performed her best that night. Chris was certainly disappointed. In any event, it was obvious the sleep she so desperately craved, would continue to elude her. Haley couldn't stop thinking about her conversation with Chris just days before when he told her to let. Let go! Ha! Didn't he know it was easier said than done? Didn't he know that letting go was the hardest part?

Her thoughts wandered back to a time when she was truly happy. Life wasn't what you would call simple, but it was still a joyous occasion. Probably the happiest moment of her life…

It was just still bright afternoon when they pulled up in front of the apartment in the car they had borrowed from an unsuspecting Deb. After taking vows, they'd had lunch with Haley's parents then spent an hour or so walking on the beach holding hands. In those minutes trudging through the sand, watching the waves crash in while they talked about the future, neither one had ever felt more alive or more happy.

"God, I hope your mom doesn't call wanting her car back tonight", Haley half joked as they stepped out of the car.

"She won't. It'll be okay."

And Deb wouldn't call. At least not that they would know of. And not because of the heart attack his father, unknown to everyone, was having at that very moment. Unbeknownst to Haley, Nathan had turned off both of their cell phones. He was nervous enough about his wedding day/night… all he needed was for his crazy mom and dad to be blowing up his cell as he tried to make love to his new bride.

"I love you, Nathan", Haley said shyly as she grabbed his hand.

He nodded and smiled at her. Nathan knew she loved him and he loved her too. He was hell bent on making their first time "together", special.

"Can you wait out here for a few minutes, Hales? I'll be quick, I promise."

She raised her eyebrow. Waiting outside the door of his, now their, apartment was the last thing she wanted to do.

"What are you up to, Nathan Scott?" she grinned.

"It's a surprise. Now hang out here for a bit. I'll be right back."

Lucky for the teen his new wife loved surprises. She gave him a quick kiss before he ran inside to finish out the spectacular set up he had begun earlier that morning. In less than ten minutes, the apartment was perfect and Nathan was satisfied. He took a deep breath before going back out to find Haley. The time had come and he wanted it to be something they would both remember forever.

"Ready Hales?" he asked.

She smiled and nodded and let him lead her inside. He closed and locked the front door behind them.. The living room was illuminated in soft light thanks to the dozen or so candles situated around the room. On the floor was a blanket and a bottle of wine.

"What's all this?" she smiled.

"You like it?"

"It's beautiful."

"You're beautiful. I love you Hales and I know we'll get to spend the rest of our lives together but this is our first time and I wanted to make it really nice for you."

She smiled again and kissed him.

"It is, Nate. Just being here with you is enough for me."

They kicked off our shoes and poured the wine.

"A toast to my beautiful wife and to the rest of our lives together…"

They raised their glasses.

"Slow it down, Hales. You know what happened last time", he joked.

"Really Mr. Scott? You know that I'm a cheap drunk and I just think you're trying to take advantage of me."

"Guilty as charged", Nathan grinned.

They both laughed but it was a nervous laugh. Both of them had wanted and waited so long for what was about to happen and the moment had finally arrived. They finished the wine and he walked over to the CD player.

"Mrs. Scott, may I have this dance?"

The sweet music of Sarah McLachlan's "Fallen" began to play.

"Oh Nate, I love this song."

"I know. The lyrics mean a lot because I know I messed up and I wasn't the best guy around when we started all this but I changed because of you. Because I want you and I love you and I needed to be a man who was good enough for you."

"I love you, Nathan", she said with sincere eyes.

"I love you too, Hales."

They finished the dance and he led her by hand to the bedroom. The floor was covered with rose petals that made a trail to the bed. It was a sweet and romantic setting but Nathan was too nervous to even speak. He looked deep in Haley's brown eyes and saw a look mixed with want, need, love, excitement and fear.

"May I?" he asked as he removed the clip from her hair.

An abundance of cascading auburn curls tumbled down her back. Nathan tucked a strand of stray hair behind her ear and let his calloused hands drift down to the small of her back and the zipper of her dress. She jumped when he undid the zipper and for a second Nathan half expected her to stop him just like she had stopped him so many times before. But she only looked at him and gave her husband a shy smile.

"You okay?"

She nodded and he went about removing his jacket and tie. He unbuttoned the shirt before turning his attention back towards her dress. Haley turned away from him and Nathan slowly slid the straps down her shoulders until the dress was in a heap on the floor. She turned to him only in white panties, her hands criss crossed protectively against her chest. Not wanting to pressure or frighten her, he took his time getting out of his pants and socks. Then it was time. Taking a deep breath, Nathan pulled his boxers off. She had felt it through his jeans a few times but this was her first time seeing it. Haley's eyes widened a bit and that made Nathan even more nervous. The woman he loved was seeing him naked for the first time and all he could think about was that time when the Tree Hill Ravens played against Pickerington. Lucas and Nathan had been exchanging words all night and Luke got really pissed when Nate made a comment about hooking up with Haley. He did it of course just to get a rise out of his estranged older brother and sure enough it had worked. Nathan just wasn't prepared for the comeback. It was when he took the ball out and Lucas walked over to him where the cheerleaders were and said to Peyton, "Hey. So I saw Nathan in the shower… yeah, no wonder you broke up with him."

Yeah they were just trading jabs trying to get the best of each other but standing naked in front of his wife for the first time, his dear brother's comments had come back to haunt him. But Haley didn't bust out pointing and laughing and she didn't run away so he figured everything was cool. Nathan just wished she would say something…anything. He wished he knew what to say but no words came to mind. He loved Haley and thought she was the sexiest girl in the world and no matter what, he just wanted her to be comfortable in front of him. She had nothing to be self conscious about. Then as if she read his mind, she slowly moved her hands away from her body. He touched her and hooked his thumbs in the waistband of her panties, never taking his blue eyes away from her baby browns as he peeled the silky material from her dampness.

"Hales…"

"It's okay", she whispered as she removed his shirt, caressing his chest as she let it fall to the ground.

At last they were completely nude in front of each other. Nathan could only smile…Haley was even more beautiful than he ever could have imagined, he thought as he gently lifted her small body and placed her on the silk sheets and climbed on top of her. She looked so perfect at that moment.

"Haley…I love you."

"I love you too, Nathan", she said back as her eyes filled with tears.

He kissed her deeply and passionately as his hands kneaded the baby soft skin of her hips and thighs and belly. When they found her breasts, she moaned in his mouth and it was all he could do to restrain himself. He was horny and she was hot and they were madly in love but he knew he had to be gentle with her.

"You're so beautiful", Nathan whispered as he began to kiss his way down her body.

"I love you, Hales. Baby, I just want to please you. I want to make you feel good."

Her body arched and she groaned as his tongue went further south.

"Oh…Nate!"

"You taste so good…", he murmured as he made his way back up.

"Oh…Nathan…mmmm, that was so incredible."

"Are you okay?" he asked again just to be sure. "Are you ready?"

"I want you inside me", she panted as she kissed me again.

"Wait", he whispered as he reached for a condom. "Better safe than sorry…at least for a few days until we make sure that patch thing is working."

She nodded and watched with a sweet curiosity as he adjusted. Finally Nathan was ready and the look on her face let him know that she was too. He eased myself inside her and winced when he saw her buckle underneath the pressure of his weight. He was going as slow and gentle as possible but he hated knowing that he was hurting her.

"You alright? Hales, you want me to stop?"

She shook her head no so he held her a little tighter and kissed her more tenderly as they continued to make love for the first time. He talked her through it, kissing and touching as he kept reminding her of how much he loved her. After a few hours, finally he released.

"Nathan…"

"Hales, I'm sorry I hurt you, baby. I was trying to go slow", Nathan explained as he wiped tears from her eyes.

"It's okay."

"You sure? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine", she smiled. "I mean, it hurt considerably at first but I was expecting that. I just have to get used to it but it felt good at the same time. I'm crying because I'm so happy. I can't believe we're married and it feels so right and we just made love for the first time and everything is so…perfect."

"I'm glad we waited", he smiled. "It was really special."

"It's just like I wanted it to be. I loved being so close to you…I mean, you've never held me like that before. It was this totally magical, amazing expression of how much we love each other."

"I do love you, Hales."

"Nate?"

"Yeah?"

"Do…do you think we'll always be like this?"

"Yeah", he nodded honestly.

"Promise me that you, that you won't ever get tired of me."

The statement itself made Nathan laugh out loud.

"Haley, I promise that I will never get tired of you. You see this ring? That means you're never getting rid of my ass. Hell, I'm just hoping you don't get tired of me."

"I love you and I trust you and I am deliriously happy but…"

"But what?"

"I'm still scared too."

"You don't have to be. I love you and I will always be here for you Haley. And I will always protect you. Always."

She smiled and he held her as she fell asleep in his arms. She looked like an angel and she was. She was his angel...

The very memory made her smile…just like it always did. She would give anything to have that one moment in time back. And often she wondered how she let it slip away in the first place. But it was gone. And she had resigned herself to that fact. It was over. Nathan had let go and now it was up to her to do the same.